Multiple-signal transmitter



(No Model.)

M. MARTIN.

MULTIPLE SIGNAL TRANSMITTER.

No. 397,194. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

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MORRIS MARTIN, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

MULTIPLE-SEGNAL TRANSMITTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,194, dated February5, 1889.

Application filed May 31, 1888, erial No. 275,647. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MORRIS l\lARTIN, of Malden, county of Middlesex, andState of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Multiple-Signallransmittcrs, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

My invention. relates to a multiple-signal transmitter by which anydesired one of a number of predetermined signals may be sent over acircuit, such apparatus being useful wherever it is desired to enable anoperator to send any one of a number of different distinct messagesautomatically by the operation of a motor, such as commonly used infirealarm or district telegraphs.

Theinvention is embodied in an instrument comprising a motor and numberof distinct signaling surfacessuch as break-wheels or theirequivalentsall moved simultaneously by said motor, the two co-operatingmembers of each of said break-wheels or automatic circuit closing andbreaking devices being permanently connected in series with one another,and each of said make-and-break devices being provided with anindependent shunt-circuit, which when closed prevents the correspondingmake-and-break devices from having any material effect upon the circuit.lVhen the motor is operated, that one of said shunts will be kept openwhich corresponds to the make-and-break device the signal of which is tobe transmitted, and the other shunts will all be closed, so that theinterruptions in the current will correspond to the shape or form of theparticular signaling-surface or make-andbreak device of which the shuntis opened.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a multiple-signal transmitter embodying thisinvention, the circuit being represented in diagram; Fig.2, aperspective view of a' portion of said transmitter, showing amodification in mechanical construction; Fig. 3, a diagram representinganother modification in mechanical construction, and Fig. 4C a detailshowing a modification of the shunt-controlling device.

The instrument forming the subject of this invention comprises a numberof circuit closing and breaking devices, which may, for 0011- venience,be called break-wheels, each consisting of a device moved by a motor,which in its movement causes the engagement and separation of twocircuit terminals, or, in other words, produces a number ofinterruptions in the current during such movement, which interruptionsin the current or breaks in the circuit are controlled as to theirnumber and duration by the formation of the moving part. Many well-knowndevices, varying considerably in mechanical construction, are employedfor thus automatically producing definite interruptions in the current,and the term break-wheel is herein employed to designate any suchdevice.

As shown in Fig. 1, the break-wheels consist of sets a a a? of pieces ofconductive material forming part of the surface of a drum, b, theremainder of which surface is composed of insulating material, each ofsaid sets of conducting-pieces a a, &c., co-operating with a pair ofsprings or contacts, 0 0 0 any of which pieces may constitute theterminals of the main circuit containing the battery B over which thesignals are to be transmitted. The entire series of break-wheels a a,&c. or, in other words, the drum b-is arranged to be operated by amotond, which may be of any usual construction-such as commonly employedin fire-alarm and district telegraph apparatusthe said drum beingrotated one or more times whenever the said motor has itsactuating-sprin g d or other actuator wound or placed'by the operator incondition to drive the motor.

Every automatic circuit making and breaking device comprises two memberswhich are placed in electrical contact and then separated in theoperation of such device's, and the term break-wheel, as hereinemployed,

. applies to or includes these members.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the members which are thus alternatelyconnected and separated in the rotation of the break-wheels are thepairs of springs which are connected by the metallic strips forming thewheel proper; but in the construction shown in Fig. 3 the wheel properforms one member, and the spring that co-operates with its surface formsthe other of the members between which the electrical connection isalternately made and broken. In any mechanical construction of thesedevices the two members that are ICO connected and separated by therotation of a given break-wheel are, in accordance with the presentinvention, connected in circuit in series with one another, as shown,the main circuit; passing, as indicated at 2, to one member of the firstln'eak-whecl, the other member of which is connected, as shown at 3,with one member of the next break-wheel, the other member of which isconnected, as shown at l, with the next, and so on for many as may be incircuit, and if this circuit, passing through the several break-wheelsscriat'i m, as stated, were the only path for the current it is obviousthat the main circuit would be open or the current interrupted wheneverthe two members of any one of the entire series of break-wheels wereseparated in the simultaneous movement of said bleak-wheels. In order,however, that the circuit or current maybe effected by one only of saidbreakwheels during any one operation of the entire series, and that anydesired one of said breakwheels may be chosen to thus control thecircuit, a shunt or branch circuit is provided for,

each of said break-wh eels, which, when closed, connects the two membersof the break-wheel,

so that they cannot open the circuit during the movement of saidbreak-wheel. Thusby opening one of said shunts and keeping all theothers closed that break-wheel only of which the shunt is opened willproduce any effect on the current in the rotation of the entire seriesof break-wheels. A circuit-controller is provided for each of saidshunts, which may be of any desired construction, several modificationsin construction being shown.

For example, as shown in Fig.1, eachshunt is composed mainly of twocontact-springs normally pressed against one another or against anintervening conducting rod or strip, 2, provided with an insulatingportion, c, and a head or handle, 6 which may have marked upon it thesignal which the circuit changesproduced by the correspondi n gbreakwheel are understood to indicate.

By drawing out one of the handles 6* as, for example, the one shown ascorresponding to the break-wheel or, (see Fig. ])--thc corrcspmidingshunt, 7, is opened and the main circuit is placed in control of thecorrespond ing break-wheel, which makes and breaks the said circuit inits rotation, while the current passes by the other tweak-wheels throughthe shunts U and 8 without being allccteil by the said break-whcels.

In the construction shown in Fig. the shunts terminate in the twoportions of divided plug-sockets, which maybe connected by metallicplugs c, and the one plug is removed, corresponding to the break-wheelthe signal of which is to be transmitted.

As shown in Fig. i, the spring-tcrminals of the shunts, which normallymake contact with one another, are arranged in a circle about the centerof a handle or pointer, 6 which. is provided with a wedge, c, ofinsulating material, which enters between and separates thespring-terminals of the shunt of any desired one of the break-wheels.

The signals maybe received 011 any suitable receiving-i nstru ment-such,for in stance, as an electro-magnet, 771, which may be a part of arecording-instrument or a relay controlling a recording or signalinginstrument of any suitable or usual character.

In the construction of break-wheels shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which thesaid wheels are all mechanically connected or form part of a singledrum, and each co-operates with a pair of springs forn'iing the membersthat are separated and connected. during the rotation of the wheel, theelectrical contacts on which the said springs rest when the motor anddrum have stopped in their normal position may all be connected, forminga single contact-strip, (17, thus dimii'iishing the liability of leavingthe main circuit open by a bad contact or connection in the transmitter.'lhisis an important improvement in automatic multiplc-transmittersoperating in a norn'lallyclosed circuit, since, owing to themultiplication of the signaling'surface, there is increasedliabilitytoform an open circuit; but it the connection between the twosprings of any pair is not properly made at the surface of the wheel thecorresponding shunt will keep the main circuit closed, and it one of theconnec tions 3 4:, 850., between the different pairs of members of thedifferent break-wheels should be imperfect the line-circuit would bemaintained through the strip (0 The part c or e thatis interposedbetween the terminals of the shunts in order to make the correspondingbreak-wheels operate, instead of being of. insulating material, might beof high resistance, or might constitute two separate terminals of aresistancecoil or equivalent, as i ndicatcd in dotted lines at c", Fig.4:, so that the break-wheels the shunt of which connected with suchdevice 2 would operate to alternately strengthen and weaken the currentinstead of wholly interrupting it, and it will be seen i that by thisconstruction a single resistance-coil could be made to cooperate withany iflesirei'l one of the breakwheels.

I claim- 1. A signattrausniitting instrument (3011b prising a number ofdistinct signaling-surfaces or ln-eak-wheels con n ccted to movesimultaneously, the co-operatii'ig members of each of said tweak-wheelsbeing pern'ianently. connected in series with one another, combined witha shunt-circuit around the cooperating members of each break-wheel andcircuit-conoperating therewith, constituting independent break-wheels,one of said surfaces being continuous under all said springs, and thedifferent pairs of springs being connected in series with one another,and shunts around each pair of springs, substantially as described.

3. A signal-transniitting instrument comprising a motor and a number ofdistinct signaling-surfaces or break-wheels moved simultaneouslythereby, the co-operating members of each of said break-wheels beingperinanently connected in series with one another, combined withseparate shunt-circuits around each of said break-wheels, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MORRIS MARTIN.

Witn esses:

J 0s. P. LIVERMORE, Y M. E. HILL.

